December 21 2012: The End Of The World

"Since time immemorial people have talked about the end of the world and made innumerable predictions about how and when the world will end. For instance, the Shakers thought the world would be finish in 1792, while the Jehovah’s Witnesses believed the years between 1914 and 1994 would mark the end of the world. Recent doomsday forecasters suggest that the year 2012 would see the end of the world. Certain experts use the conclusion of a lengthy cycle in the ancient Mayan calendar and predict that the end of life would take place on December 21, 2012. These theorists believe that on December 21, 2012, the Earth will experience unprecedented, cataclysmic disasters which could range from massive earthquakes and tsunamis to nuclear reactor meltdowns. Some proponents of the 2012 prophecy suggest that people should start preparing for the disaster. They have already begun stocking up supplies for their survival. The different religions have their own beliefs about the end of the world. Some focus on the triumph of good over evil and Judgment Day. In Christianity, the Book of Revelation, the last chapter of the Bible’s New Testament, mentions Armageddon, the final battle on Earth between the forces of God and Satan. The word Armageddon is thought to come from the Hebrew for “mount of Megiddo.” Megiddo, an ancient and strategically positioned city located in present-day Israel, was the site of a number of battles. Some Christians interpret the Book of Revelation as a roadmap that predicts exactly how the world will end. They believe that Judgment Day will occur on Armageddon and Jesus will save the true believers,. They also believe non-believers will be left behind and face suffering."